Join Alabama Outdoors on Saturday, April 27th for the 2013 Ruffner Mountain Trail Running Festival!

 

Starting at 8:00 am, a variety of distances to chose from including a 5K, 10K, and 15K.  And starting at 7:00 am, an 8 hour option for those wishing to enjoy the entire day on the trails of Ruffner.

The course is entirely on 1,036 acre Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve in Birmingham, AL.  All races begin on the service road adjacent to the parking lot and Nature Center.  All races will start at the Pavilion/parking lot and will head up the service road with the different distances splitting off.  The 5K will head straight on the Quarry Trail going around Possum Loop, back on Quarry to the finish.  The 10 and 15K will start with a bit more service road spurring off to the right onto the trails headed down the Buckeye to Lizard Loop.  It will double back to the Ridge and Valley, then around Possum Loop and back on the Quarry to the finish.  The 15K will split off from the 10K to add the additional distance.

The trails of Ruffner include diverse terrain with rocks, roots, and ample elevation change.  The 10 and 15K distances include the most challenging trails.

Starting at 7:00 am, the 8 hour option will take advantage of all three courses to keep it interesting.  For those wishing to set up their own aid station, the course will loop back to the parking lot several times and there’s ample space for a chair, cooler, gear, and etc.

Fun Facts about Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve:

• There is 5,000 feet of elevation change in our Crusher Ridge 21K! It triples in the 63K.
• Ruffner’s Preserve was once a major mining site with 9 iron ore mines, 3 limestone, 2 chert and 2 brownstone quarries. Today it hosts a globally rare plant species and the only East off the Mississippi population of the Spring Water Dancer.
• 12 miles of trails cross the site with copious un-trailed area, our Urban Back Country.
• Our trees remove $471,000 worth of air pollution each year!

For more information, click here

Need some gear for the Ruffner Mountain Trail Running Festival?

 

Be sure to check out our great selection of trail running shoes  for men and women in our online store!